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Wolverhampton Wanderers are "in talks" with West Ham United over their leftback Aaron Cresswell, with the deal described as a "goer", according to Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth.

Is Aaron Cresswell joining Wolverhampton Wanderers?

It hasn't quite been the transfer window that fans of the Old Gold would have been hoping for this year.

The club are yet to make a major signing, with the only significant business at all being the sale of first-team players, none bigger than club captain and talisman Ruben Neves, who was sold for £47m last month.

The lack of spending stems from the club's concern over their ability to remain within the Premier League's profit and loss regulations after years of splashing the cash for little in return.

The regulations are clear that a club in the top flight cannot lose more than £105m over three years, with the punishment for doing so ranging from simple fines to points deductions.

According to The Athletic, Wolves aren't currently expected to breach the regulations, but if they repeat last summer's £100m spend, they would easily cross the line.

So, this summer, the West Midlands side will likely be spending much less on transfers, and the latest player linked to the club fits that bill, West Ham's Cresswell.

According to the Daily Mail, Wolves are keen to bring the player to Molineux, and the Hammers would be willing to let their man leave for as little as £2.5m.

Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth explained the situation live on Sky Sports News (via Football Daily), saying:

"They're also in talks, we're told, with West Ham United over their leftback Aaron Cresswell. He's entered the final year of his contract, he made 24 starts in the Premier League last season. But he wasn't in the starting eleven, and he was an unused substitute for the Europa Conference League final victory against Fiorentina last month.

"That one could be a goer because the talks are ongoing between the two clubs over Cresswell."

Did Aaron Cresswell have a good season last year?

It was a good season for the 33-year-old last year, as despite being an unused substitute for the Europa Conference League final, he was given plenty of game time during the Premier League campaign, starting 24 matches and coming off the bench on four other occasions.

According to WhoScored, he averaged a respectable rating of 6.61 across his 28 appearances, created one assist for his team and maintained a passing accuracy of 81.4%.

His underlying numbers, while nothing spectacular, demonstrate that, even at his age, he can perform at a high level.

According to FBref, who compare players in a similar position across Europe's top five leagues, he sits in the top 11% for progressive passes, the top 15% for shot-creating actions, the top 20% for expected assists, and the top 29% for attempted passes, all per 90.

One man who is certainly a fan of the Liverpool-born defender is former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson who, when speaking to Football Insider, said:

"Cresswell is an amazing player. Consistency is the word with him. You know what you are going to get week in, week out. He never lets the team down.

"It is just unfortunate for him that England have got so much strength in that position with the likes of Luke Shaw and Ben Chilwell.

"He has been the unsung hero at West Ham over the past couple of seasons."

While he definitely wouldn't be a flash or glitzy signing for the Old Gold, he would undoubtedly be a massive asset to the squad if the fee is only £2.5m; that seems like an excellent deal for a team unable to spend big this summer.

Yesterday we covered reports that Newcastle United transfer target Federico Chiesa would accept a move to St James' Park, and it seems that interest is now more advanced with the player actually leaning towards going to Tyneside.

What is Federico Cheisa's salary?

The Italian is arguably one of the most devastating attacking players in Serie A on his day, combining pace, trickery and end product to great effect. He showcased his brilliance on the international stage at Euro 2020, helping Italy go all the way in the competition after their penalty shootout win over England in the final back in 2021.

Chiesa suffered an injury-plagued season at Juventus, however, managing only six starts and 15 substitute appearances, with just two goals coming his way in the process. It could be that the 25-year-old, who currently earns £149,000 per week at the Serie A giants, is allowed to leave in the current transfer window, which could act as a big boost for Newcastle.

The Magpies were linked with a move for the Italy international earlier this week, with the club seeing him as a potentially stellar signing who can bolster their attacking options and be an immediate upgrade on those currently playing regularly out wide, such as Allan Saint-Maximin and Miguel Almiron.

Will Federico Chiesa join Newcastle?

Now, according to Corriera della Sera [via Sport Witness], Chiesa is "intrigued by Newcastle" after hearing about their interest in him, and is actually tempted to make a fresh start in the Northeast.

He has already turned down a move to Aston Villa, in order to join a team who can promise him Champions League football – something the Magpies can give him, following their superb fourth-place finish in the Premier League last season, as they pipped Liverpool to a place in Europe's most prestigious club competition.

Chiesa really could be a fantastic signing for Newcastle if they can persuade him to make the move to St James' Park, considering what an elite talent he is, hailed as "world-class" and someone who "has all the ability and desire of a great player" by former Italy defender Alessandro Pierini.

At 25, he is right in the middle of his career, gaining lots of experience at the top level but still also having five or six years in and around his peak, making him a long-term acquisition for the Magpies, should they beat others to his signature before the start of the 2023/24 season.

This is someone who has 77 goal involvements (38 goals and 39 assists) in 202 Serie A appearances, not to mention netting five times for Italy, and this level of end product could take Eddie Howe's side up another gear, in terms of the attacking threat they possess, rather than relying too much on the goals of Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson.

A transfer like this would make Premier League rivals sit up and take notice, further suggesting that Newcastle are only heading in the right direction currently, and it could act as a catalyst for other top-quality players joining him at St James' and adding to the rebuild, as the Magpies look to eventually become a genuine league and Champions League force.

The final game of the opening weekend of the 2023/24 Premier League season will see Manchester United host Wolverhampton Wanderers at Old Trafford in a Monday night game under the lights.

It’s set to be a busy summer transfer window for Erik Ten Haag, and Old Trafford will be expecting a new-look United side to line up to get the season underway.

Here is Football FanCast's preview ahead of the return to action…

When is the match and is it on TV?

Man Utd take on Wolves on the 14th of August and is slated for an 8pm kick-off in Manchester.

Although television contracts and deals have yet to be confirmed ahead of the new season, especially with the arrival of TNT Sports (replacing BT Sports), it is likely Sky Sports will have the rights to broadcast this fixture as their first Monday Night Football (MNF) billing of the season.

Who is Manchester United’s key player?

There are certainly a number of players to choose from.

Bruno Fernandes enjoyed a superb season in Erik Ten Haag’s debut campaign. 2022 summer signing Lisandro Martinez is also a crucial part of the team and is arguably the most important piece of the back four.

United’s key man, however, is Marcus Rashford. The forward enjoyed his best season for United in 22/23, netting 17 times and providing five assists. He will be crucial heading into the new season.

Who is Wolves’ key player?

Wolves look set to lose a number of key players in this summer transfer window. The club are shackled by Financial Fair Play rules, and thus have to sell before they can buy. They recently lost star player Ruben Neves to the Saudi Pro League, for example.

Jose Sa in goal looks set to be one of, if not their most important player. The Portuguese international made over 100 saves for Wolves last season, keeping 11 clean sheets.

How will Man Utd line up?

It’s early in the summer window, so it’s hard to pick the exact starting XI for Ten Haag’s United, but with the takeover saga dragging on it has proved a distraction to this transfer window’s recruitment. Inter goalkeeper Andre Onana has been linked with a move to Old Trafford along with Chelsea star Mason Mount. Here’s our prediction:

Onana; Dalot, Martinez, Varane, Shaw; Casemiro, Mount; Antony, Fernandes, Rashford; Martial

How will Wolves line up?

It’s more about who Wolves can hold onto in this window rather than who they are going to sign, so don’t expect too many changes from the regular team of last season.

Wolves have been linked with moves for Liverpool youngster Fabio Carvalho and free-kick specialist James Ward-Prowse from Southampton. If they completed these signings, expect them to start straight away on the opening weekend at Old Trafford. :

Sa; Semedo, Kilman, Collins, Dawson, Jonny; Cravalho, Lemina, Ward-Prowse, Neto; Sarabia

What were the last 5 league meetings between the two teams?

The sides have met 18 times in the English Premier League, with United winning 11 of those games. There has been three draws in the fixture, with Wolves winning on four occasions.

It’s a fixture that doesn’t typically produce a lot of goals, but one that United have dominated in recent years:

May 2023: Man Utd 2-0 Wolves December 2022: Wolves 0-1 Man Utd January 2022: Wolves 1-0 Man Utd August 2021: Wolves 0-1 Man Utd May 2021: Wolves 1-2 Man Utd

Every Premier League Opening Day Fixture

Who is going to win?

It’s hard to pick against United on the opening weekend of the season under the lights at Old Trafford. So here, we’re not going to. United should stroll to victory in the final game of the opening gameweek of the new season.

FFC predicts: Manchester United win

Liverpool may try and include players in exchange or additional add-ons in their bid to try and sign Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia this summer, according to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano.

What's the latest transfer news surrounding Romeo Lavia and Liverpool?

According to Sky Sports, Southampton are confident of being able to sell Lavia for the £50 million price tag they are demanding for the Belgium international to leave the South Coast.

Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal have all held conversations with the 19-year-old's entourage over the possibility of signing Lavia; however, his suitors have concerns over the fee quoted for the youngster.

As per The Telegraph, Liverpool may be willing to offload veteran midfielder Thiago Alcantara this window, as he has attracted interest from Saudi Arabia in his services.

In turn, the Reds could turn to Lavia as a potential replacement; nevertheless, his £50 million price is said to be 'too prohibitive' for Jurgen Klopp to consider bidding for the enforcer at present.

Manchester City retain a buyback clause for Lavia that stands at £40 million, which they inserted when he joined Southampton back in 2022; however, it doesn't activate until 2024, enabling rival clubs to steal a march on the Citizens this summer, as per Football Insider.

Of course, the German coach has already made moves in the transfer window to shore up his midfield, with Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai joining from Brighton & Hove Albion and RB Leipzig, respectively.

Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, journalist Romano reckons that Liverpool may be cute in negotiations and either include additional add-ons or offer players in exchange to try and seal a deal to sign Lavia.

Romano said: "For Romeo Lavia, the price tag is around £50million.

"But sources believe that maybe, with some add-ons or with a creative formula such as including some players, they can find a way with Southampton to reach an agreement."

Why is Southampton midfielder Romeo Lavia so highly regarded?

Shortly after moving to Southampton from Manchester City, Lavia earned high praise from Manchester United legend Paul Scholes, who was speaking on BT Sport quoted by The Daily Mail before the Red Devils took on Southampton at St Mary's last year, as the pundit stated: "He has got a pass in his locker and he is big and strong and likes to defend. He does not want to get forward too much and sits in front of the back four and sets the play in motion from there."

Scholes' summary of Lavia's attributes is a high testament to the 19-year-old's qualities and potential to develop. Unsurprisingly, several elite sides are keen on offering him a return to the English top flight.

Last term, Lavia made 34 appearances in all competitions for Southampton and registered one goal alongside a solitary assist, as per Transfermarkt.

His capacity to efficiently recycle possession will have attracted interest from top clubs. According to WhoScored, Lavia maintained a pass success rate of 86.4% in the Premier League, showing commendable maturity for his age.

Getting stuck in, Lavia also managed to win 93 tackles and interceptions combined, displaying courage and tenacity in the Saints' engine room, as per FBRef.

Lavia looks set for an intriguing next few weeks, where we will find out more about his potential next destination, as an exit from Southampton looks to be nailed on before the end of the window.

Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane is believed to be open to a potential move away to Bayern Munich this summer but Daniel Levy will not make any deal easy.

How much is Harry Kane worth?

Despite the north London club enduring a seriously underwhelming 2022/23 campaign, it was not a season to forget for Kane on a personal note.

Indeed, the 29-year-old striker enjoyed one of his best individual Premier League campaigns after returning an impressive 30 league goals.

To put that into context, his return was only six short of the Golden Boot winner, Erling Haaland, who was operating in a Manchester City side which won the title.

And it is apparent his stunning displays across his career at Tottenham has earned him a lot of interested potential suitors.

The likes of Manchester United have been heavily linked with a possible move for the England captain this summer, but are believed to have since pulled out of the race.

Now, it seems as if a potential move abroad could potentially be opening up for the 29-year-old with the Bundesliga champions reportedly making their move in the last few days.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Fabrizio Romano has claimed the striker is believed to be open to a possible move to Munich but any deal would be made difficult by Levy:

"From what I understand, and I always said even when he was linked with Real Madrid, Daniel Levy – Tottenham chairman – is going to make this deal very difficult. He wants to keep the player the club is still dreams of Harry Kane as Tottenham player for the next season and for the future."

"They don't want to give up on the story for Harry Kane also because they feel that the player will be open to make this move happen. So Harry Kane is not saying no to Bayern and this is why they sent an official bid and this is why they want to insist but it's also crucial to understand Tottenham's position in this story. They don't want to make it happen."

Should Harry Kane leave Spurs?

There was certainly a lot that went on in north London last season which could potentially make the England captain keen to find a new adventure this summer.

Tottenham's eighth place finish was largely as a result of the stunning form in front of goal shown by the 29-year-old who after he scored 43% of the club's leagues goals.

However, another season showing similar form in front of goal could potentially take him within 30 goals of matching Alan Shearer's all-time record.

It is apparent Levy will be in no mood to see his prized assed leave this summer under any circumstances which could potentially lead to a messy affair in north London.

But if Kane is adamant on leaving, then next summer would allow him free rein over his options and would even allow him a bigger scope to negotiate a better deal for himself.

There promises to be a lot of change at Spurs this summer with the arrival of Ange Postecoglou and the expected signing of James Maddison.

And perhaps the early signs being shown from Levy to wrap up the signing of Maddison, for example, may be enough to persuade Kane to give Spurs one more chance.

Tottenham Hotspur could be set to secure the first true Ange Postecoglou signing this summer, if reports are to be believed…

What's the latest on Edmond Tapsoba to Tottenham Hotspur?

The latest comes from the Daily Star, who suggest that Spurs are on the verge of signing Edmond Tapsoba from Bayer Leverkusen.

Despite welcoming Dujan Kulusevski to north London on a permanent move, this was a deal that had been a year and a half in the making, and crucially forged by Antonio Conte when the Swede was first loaned.

The Australian seems to still be scoping out where his squad needs boosting, and who the right men to fill those spots are.

In this hulking central defender, for whom a £25m bid is reportedly on the table, they could immediately bolster their back line with a cut-price swoop.

Considering the German club had demanded a fee of around €70m (£61m) back in 2021, this would mark a sensational transfer masterclass, as they are noted as 'very close' to sealing the deal.

How good is Edmond Tapsoba?

Whilst the price alone would make this a phenomenal deal, the player they would acquire is also arguably the perfect man to step into Postecoglou's side with ease.

His ability on the ball is arguably preferred to his outright defensive qualities, and for a side that will seek to dominate possession, a centre-back with a quality akin to his will be imperative.

After all, when compared to others in his position across Europe, he ranks in the top 5% for progressive passes, the top 8% for progressive carries and the top 6% for successful take-ons per 90, via FBref.

This paints the picture of a defender so supremely confident with the ball at his feet, yet standing at 6 foot 4, he has the physical qualities to remain a staunch defender. Journalist Antonio Mango sought to outline this, branding him a "monster" back in 2020.

To compare him to others within the Spurs squad, it is clear that he would walk in as the shining light for what their Australian boss will crave.

His 86% pass accuracy and 89% dribble success rate in the Bundesliga last term would have had him ranked joint-third and first respectively among Spurs' centre-backs, had he been a part of last year's disaster in north London.

He added a further 1.5 tackles and three clearances per game too, not to discredit his solidity.

It is for all these reasons, plus the huge coup they are set to claim, that make Tapsoba sure to be the first of many masterclasses Postecoglou will hope to perform in N17.

Glasgow Rangers head coach Michael Beale has been a busy man in the summer transfer window as he has wasted no time in attempting to bolster his squad at Ibrox ahead of the 2023/24 campaign.

Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling, and Jack Butland have all been snapped up on free transfers from Norwich, Chelsea, and Crystal Palace respectively and will officially arrive on the 1st of July.

The club have also completed the permanent signing of Dutch centre-forward Sam Lammers for an undisclosed fee from Serie A side Atalanta to improve their options at the top end of the pitch.

However, one number nine from the Italian top flight who will not be joining the Light Blues this summer is Cremonese ace Cyriel Dessers.

The Gers were reportedly closing in on an initial €4.2m (£3.6m) deal for the Nigerian but the 28-year-old has opted to turn down a move to Ibrox as he would prefer to remain in Italy, despite his team's relegation to Serie B.

Rangers transfer news – Lyndon Dykes interest

Beale could move on from Dessers this month by completing a deal to sign reported transfer target Lyndon Dykes, who is currently playing in the Championship with Queens Park Rangers.

The Scotland international has the potential to be a shrewd addition to the squad as he has already worked with the Light Blues boss in the past and is a proven performer in the Scottish Premiership.

Dykes played under Beale at the start of 22/23 before the Englishman made the switch to Ibrox and plundered six goals in 21 league outings before he went on to score two in the 18 games after the coach's departure.

The 27-year-old, who registered a goal and an assist in Scotland's recent 2-1 win over Norway, clearly thrived under the Rangers chief and this is backed up by the 42-year-old saying "he is giving me everything he can give me" during their time together.

Adapting to football in the Premiership could also be easy for the Australian-born marksman, who ex-boss Mark Warburton hailed as "outstanding", as the powerhouse racked up 11 goals and eight assists in 28 top-flight outings for Livingston before his move to England.

Dykes could be an ideal option to bolster the club's number nine options due to his pre-existing relationship with the manager and his knowledge of Scottish football.

Therefore, Beale could forget about Dessers and move on from the forward, who scored six Serie A goals in 22/23 and has no experience in Scotland, by reuniting with the £8k-per-week QPR ace this summer.

With the lure of more European football at the London Stadium next season, plus plenty of money to play with should Declan Rice's expected £100m transfer go through, West Ham United supporters have every right to be excited for what the summer transfer window holds.

While some big names have been linked with the Hammers – Manchester United's Harry Maguire among them – others with a little less stature are also reported to be on David Moyes' radar.

Who is West Ham target Valentin Castellanos?

One of those who West Ham fans are perhaps not all that familiar with is Valentin Castellanos, often referred to as "Taty" Castellanos, who is back at parent club New York City FC after spending last season on loan with Girona in LaLiga.

According to TYC Sports reporter Cesar Luis Merlo, Girona are not in a financial position to purchase Castellanos permanently, and that has alerted the likes of West Ham and Sevilla.

That said, reports in Spain – via Sport Witness – have suggested that it is Benfica who leads the race for his signature, with the Irons now needing a last-ditch bid to get a move over the line.

It is claimed that an offer of around £13m will be enough to land the 24-year-old, who had never previously played in European football prior to last season.

Should West Ham move for Castellanos?

Castellanos made headlines in April when scoring all four goals for Girona in their 4-2 win against Real Madrid, making him the first player to score four times against Los Blancos in a LaLiga game since Oviedo's Esteban Echevarria in 1947.

Those were four of an impressive 13 goals scored by the former Argentina U23 international in the Spanish top flight last season – only seven players netted more.

Girona were very reliant on Castellanos for their top-half finish, with the striker scoring 22% of their 58 goals. To give that some context, it is a similar rate as Antoine Griezmann at Atletico Madrid (21%) and Karim Benzema at Real Madrid (25%).

Castellanos has very much proved he is capable of playing in a top European league, then, and Girona's loss could well be West Ham's gain as they seek out a player they thought Gianluca Scamacca would be when splashing out £35.5m last year.

There are obvious comparisons to be made between Castellanos and another former West Ham striker in Carlos Tevez, who also hailed from Argentina and quickly won the hearts of supporters.

Like Tevez, Castellanos is pacey and powerful, while also not afraid to get stuck in, as reflected by the 1.2 fouls committed per game in LaLiga last season. As per WhoScored, that translated to 11 yellow cards, only further highlighting his edgy side.

For comparison, Tevez was booked 24 times across 2019 Premier League appearances for West Ham, Manchester United and Manchester City, so Castellanos still has some way to go on that front.

As pointed out by former MLS reporter Chris Smith, Castellanos has a "clinical" nature to his game, which was also something Tevez prided himself on. The comparisons continue on that front, as Tevez averaged 0.37 goals per 90 minutes in the 2006-07 season at West Ham; Castellanos averaged 0.45 at Girona last season.

Tevez hit the target from 1.06 of his shots that campaign, while his compatriot did so an average of 1.11 times last season – very alike, indeed.

The early signs are certainly positive in terms of the Mendoza native's attacking game, which could hugely benefit West Ham as they look to once again compete on European and domestic fronts next season.

There has never been a better time to be a Newcastle fan.

Within the last 18 months, the club has escaped the clutches of Mike Ashley, avoided relegation, ditched Steve Bruce, found new ownership, hired Eddie Howe, and has just secured Champions League football for the first time since 2002.

It is a wondrously exciting dawn for the Magpies, but they must not rest on their laurels, and begin shaping their squad for their European excursion.

They need to add more depth and quality to juggle the increased amount of fixtures and James Maddison would be a magnificent addition.

What’s the latest on James Maddison to Newcastle?

According to the Guardian, the Magpies and Tottenham are set to be part of a hotly-contested tug-of-war for the 26-year-old’s signature.

The Magpies have been reportedly working on a deal for Maddison since last summer and can offer the playmaker the chance to compete in Europe’s most elite competition.

The Foxes have accepted that Maddison 'can leave for the right offer' and only has a year left on his contract.

It is understood that an offer of around £40m could be enough for the 2016 Premier League winners to sanction his sale.

How would James Maddison fit in at Newcastle?

Despite his side’s torrid season, the £110k-per-week maestro has emerged from the rubble of Leicester’s relegation with his formidable reputation still intact.

In 30 Premier League appearances, the attacking midfielder registered 19 goal involvements and the highest average rating (7.24) in the whole squad, as per WhoScored.

The two-cap international has been a fountain of creativity and end-product as he ranks in the top 11% in Europe’s top five leagues among his positional peers for assists per 90, as well as within the best 15% for shot-creating actions and progressive passes per 90.

A player of this stunning effervescence propped behind the irrepressible Alexander Isak is a frightening prospect.

In his debut season in England, the forward scored ten top-flight goals, despite only making 22 appearances in an injury-ravaged start.

In this short period, the 23-year-old has already displaced his dazzling quick feet, his clinical finishing, and intoxicating directness as he ranks within the highest 7% for successful take-ons per 90 and 16% for progressive carries per 90.

Hailed as someone who possesses “all the attributes”, a combination of Maddison’s mesmeric creativity and the flourishing potential of Isak could be a potent force in domestic and European competition.

Described as “fantastic” by Frank Lampard, Maddison should deservedly be playing top-flight football come August and St James Park would be a mouth-watering destination.

Former Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla has rolled back the years after scoring a superb solo goal during Joaquin’s testimonial match.

Why was Santi Cazorla back in Spain?

Real Betis legend Joaquin has just retired and so a game was played last night in his honour. Indeed, his now former side took on a Spain Legends team which included the likes of Raul, Guit, Sergio Ramos and Iker Casillas.

In the end, Betis actually won the game 6-4 but this didn’t stop magician Cazorla from delivering one sublime moment of skill to open the scoring in the 27th minute.

As shown in this footage shared on Twitter, the 38-year-old controls an awkward clearance on the edge of the box, beats two men with a sharp touch, before sitting down the goalkeeper with a clever dummy, allowing him to roll the ball into an empty net.

Cazorla won two FA Cups with Arsenal while also scoring 29 goals and providing 45 assists in 180 appearances in all competitions, securing his status as a fan favourite.

Injuries sadly curtailed his time in England and he left in 2018, heading back to Villarreal for two seasons before moving to Qatari outfit Al-Sadd SC.

Despite now being in his late 30s, this recent display of skill shows that he’s still not lost that ability to sprinkle stardust on any game he’s involved in.

The Arsenal fans certainly seemed to enjoy seeing their former midfielder doing his thing back in Europe once again. Indeed, they quickly flocked to Twitter to reminisce about the player.

Here are some of the best reactions…

It seems everyone is in agreement about just how good Santi was and still is.